Message No. 5

How to receive Healing

No
one wants

to be sick, but everyone gets sick sometime or other.
Evangelistic meetings with healing emphasis draw larger crowds than the rest.
One of the obvious reasons why surging crowds followed Jesus was the
manifestation of healing power through Him. The ministry of Christ reflected the
perfect will of God. Because Christ is unchanging and alive today, we too can
experience healing from Him as those who were healed when He walked on this
planet in flesh and blood 2000 years ago.

God
the Father is a Healer. He bound Himself to His people with the promise, "I
am the Lord who heals you" (Ex 15:26). God the Son is a Healer. He carried
our sicknesses on the Cross (Mt 8:17). God the Holy Spirit is a Healer. He
bestows gifts of healings and boosts our mortal bodies (1 Cor 12:9; Rom 8:11).
What an encouragement to know that all the three Persons of the Godhead are
interested and involved in our healing!

Though
healing is a gift from God, an analysis of the Bible passages on healing gives
several conditions one must fulfil to receive healing.

1.
Receive Christ as Saviour.

There
was no sickness prior to the fall of man. Therefore it is proper to seek God
first for the healing of the soul before the healing of the body. While listing
the benefits God bestows on us, David put them in proper order. First,
forgiveness and then healing (Psa 103:2,3). Prophet Isaiah also indicated the
same order when he was describing Calvary: "He Himself took our infirmities
and bore our sicknesses." To a paralytic man Jesus first said, "Your
sins are forgiven you" and then, "Arise, take up your bed and go to
your house" (Mt 9:1-7).

Healing
is "the childrenís bread" (Mt 15:26). It is only when you believe on
Christ and receive Him as your Saviour, you become a child of God (Jn 1:12). Not
until then. When you believe that Christ died for your sins and rose again, you
will have the assurance of sins forgiven and an inner witness of the Holy Spirit
that you are a child of God (Rom 10:9,10; 8:15,16). Then you can cry to God,
"Abba, Father!"

Jesus
preached about the Kingdom of God before healing the people (Mt 4:23). Healing
is a Kingdom blessing for the Kingdom citizens. One must be born again into this
Kingdom to enjoy the privileges of citizenship.

This
does not mean that God never heals a person unless he surrenders his life to
Him. God is love. He gives rain and shine both to the good and the bad. But
nothing satisfies or pleases Him as accepting His Son as the Lamb sacrificed for
us. And nothing better illustrates His love than that He calls us His children
(1 Jn 3:1).

2.
Review your life.

If
you are already a believer and you fall sick, take a stock of your life.
Physical health and spiritual wellbeing are interrelated. Apostle John greeted
Gaius, "Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may
go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well" (3 Jn 2).

Though
all sickness is not divine discipline, it is certainly one of the means God uses
to correct His people (Dt 28:58,59). C. S. Lewis penned, "God
whispers to us in our pleasures, but shouts in our pains; it is His megaphone to
rouse a deaf world."

God
struck Miriam with leprosy for the sin of backbiting. She was healed after seven
days of repentance (Num 12). The physical suffering of Job deepened his
repentance and heightened his knowledge of the Holy (Job 42:5,6). After healing
the man at Bethesda who had been sick for 38 years, Jesus warned him, "Sin
no more, lest a worse thing comes on you" (Jn 5:14). As long as David was
covering his sin, he could not enjoy health and vitality (Psa 32:3,4; 38:3).

Your
body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. God allows the health of the body to be
decayed if the body is defiled (1 Cor 6:18,19; 3:16,17). This relationship of
spiritual wellbeing to physical health is rediscovered by modern medicine. The
human immune system is inhibited by bad moral choices and by the distortion of
the personality such choices cause. Earlier we repent, sooner will we recover.

3.
Reconcile with the wronged.

"Confess
your faults to one another and pray for one another that you may be healed"
(Js 5:16). Apostle James writes this as part of Godís prescription for healing
in the New Testament Church.

Medical
science recognizes that emotions such as envy, resentment and hatred are
responsible for the majority of sicknesses. Solomon the wise observed, "A
sound heart is life to the body but envy is rottenness to the bones" (Prov
14:30). Pluck out all roots of bitterness from your heart. Take the initiative
yourself to set matters right with anyone with whom you are not in good terms
(Mt 5:23,24). Holding grudge against someone is to your disadvantage. Forgive
everyone freely.

The
Corinthian Christians were breaking bread with all their fights and factions.
They did not discern or realize that the bread represented the Lordís body of
which each of them was an organ. Therefore the Lord punished them with diseases
and even death (1 Cor 11:17-20, 28-32). This is written for our admonition and
warning. How can we expect the Lord to heal our body when we hurt His body?

You
should restitute matters not only with believers but also unbelievers if you
have harmed any of them. A guilt-free conscience is like medicine. Good and
smooth relationships keep us cheerful. Health and cheerfulness mutually beget
each other.

If
you cannot meet the offended in person, send him a letter of apology. Donít
defer the matter for any reason.

4.
Rely on the Word of God.

When
Abraham and Sarah believed the promises of God, they received healing and
strength against their barrenness and deadness (Rom 4:21). When Mary took God at
His Word, her virgin womb conceived without a manís help (Lk 1:37,38). The
Word of God has the same supernatural power to perform medical miracles if we
can believe.

About
the healing experience of the people of Israel we read that "God sent His
Word and healed them" (Psa 107: 20). Christ delivered and healed people
with His Word (Mt 8:16). He called the faith of the military official great. It
was because his faith had been based solely on the power of Christís Word (Mt
8:8-10).

The
Bible abounds with Godís promises of healing and health. Read them again and
again and stand on them. Faith comes through the Word of God (Rom 10:17). The
healing power of Christ was manifest "as He was teaching" (Lk 5:17).
"Pleasant words are 1ike a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to
the bones" (Prov 16:24).

If
due to illness you are not able to concentrate and study the Scriptures, you may
simply be recollecting the promises of God you know by heart. The Holy Spirit
indwells believers to remind them of the words of Christ (Jn 14:26). Hereís
seen one of the benefits of memorizing Bible verses as a regular habit.

5.
Request the prayer of others.

Praise
God for the gifts of healings and working of miracles available in the Church
today through the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 12:9, 10, 28). Request the prayers of
ministers who are endowed with these gifts, wherever possible. Attend meetings
where the sick are ministered to. People took advantage of the healing
ministries of Peter, Philip and Paul when these men visited their cities and
towns (Acts 5:15,16; 8:5-8; 28:8,9). But quite unfortunately several healing
ministries these days are merchandised. In your desperation to receive healing,
beware lest you are manipulated.

The
plain directive given to the sick is to "call for the elders of the
Church" to offer the prayer of faith (Js 5:14,15). Elders in the New
Testament Church mean pastors. They need not be spectacularly gifted. Because it
is the Holy Spirit who has appointed them as overseers to shepherd the flock, He
honours their prayers and heals the sick (Acts 20:17,28). Heaven upholds its
officers, who minister in the Church (Mt 18:17,18).

Not
only leaders but also any member of the Church can minister healing to the sick.
The resurrected Christ unequivocally said, "These signs will follow those
who believe: In My name... they will lay hands on the sick, and they will
recover" (Mk 16:17,18). Donít despise any believer. God used just an
ordinary disciple to minister healing to the would-be great apostle! (Acts
9:10,17, 18). After mentioning the ministry of the elders to the sick, apostle
James said, "Pray for one another that you may be healed" (Js 5:16).

6.
Release your faith.

Faith
is basic to receive healing. Believe in the fatherhood of God and expect good
things from Him. He is interested in your wellbeing (Mt 7:9-11). Believe on the
finished work of Christ on the Cross. He has authority over all diseases and
sicknesses (Isa 53:4,5; Acts 3:15,16). Believe in the formidable power of the
Holy Spirit. He can deliver you from all the oppressions of the devil (Acts
10:38).

No
doubt God listens to the prayers of others made on your behalf. But He
ultimately expects "you" to reach out to Him in faith. Eventhough
prophet Isaiah was there with him, King Hezekiah did not solely depend on the
prophet but cried out to God personally with tears. And God answered him,
"I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I
will heal you" (2 Ki 20:1-5).

Negative
confession kills faith. Keep confessing the promises of God. Donít be thinking
about the negative instances of the past, if any. So many preachers and people
prayed for my mother to be cured of cancer. But she grew worse and died
(1924-1981). My brotherís two little daughters had observed all these. One day
the elder one accidentally cut her finger with a penknife. She got scared of the
bleeding and started to pray. Immediately the younger one told her, "Nita,
donít pray. If you pray, you will also die like grandma!" Away with such
childishness. Look to God afresh for your present need. He is not the God of the
dead, but of the living! He is a very "present" help in trouble! Donít
limit His power (Psa 46:1).

Donít
murmur. Give no place to worry or anxiety. Keep praising God (Psa 30:4,5). Even
if you are not able to believe enough, articulate your feelings like the sick
boyís father: "Lord, I do believe; Help me overcome my unbelief "
(Mk 9 :4). God understands.

Very
often healing may not be instant but progressive (Lk 17:14). Godís delays do
not necessarily mean denials. He may intend to develop your faith so He may show
greater glory as in the case of Lazarus (Jn 11:6,40). Donít give up even if
you are suffering for many many years. To a 38 year chronic case, Jesus asked,
"Do you want to be made well?" He answered yes and Jesus healed him (Jn
5:5-8). Folks may discourage you from praying so long for healing. But be
determined like Bartimaeus who was blind (Mk 10:48).

7.
Resort to medical help.

God
works through natural as well as supernatural means to bring health to His
people. There is not a single reference in the entire Bible that condemns
medical help. Jesus Himself said that the sick needed a physician (Mt 9:12).

Dr.
Ambrose Pare confessed, "I bandage, God heals." This is what is seen
in the healing of King Hezekiah. In answer to his tearful prayer God promised
the King through Prophet Isaiah that he would heal him. Isaiah said to Hezekiahís
servants, "Make an ointment from figs and spread it over the boil."
They did this and he recovered! (2 Ki 20:5,7). Did the prophet underestimate the
healing power of God by prescribing a herbal medicine to a leader of Godís
people? Or, did the apostle undermine the miracle-working power of God by
recommending medicinal wine to a young leader in the Church? (1 Tim 5:23).

Jesus
did not condemn the woman who spent all her money on doctors. Rather He
comforted her and cured her (Mt 5:25,26,34). Medical science has its
limitations. Doctors and nurses cannot put scrambled eggs back into the shell!
Also if a disease or condition is caused directly by demonic activity, the
greater power of God alone can bring about complete deliverance (Mk 9:17,20,25;
Lk 13:11-13). Again, if a sickness is a punishment from God, the primary remedy
is repentance. Hereís where King Asa failed. He fell ill when he backslided.
Instead of seeking God in repentance he sought the physicians only (2 Chron
16:7-12).

If
you are firm in not taking medicine, good. May God honour your faith. But
remember that miracles are more an exception than a rule. Jesus taught us to
pray for our daily bread, but He expects us to go to work and earn bread. You
cannot always expect crows to bring beef and angels bring bread!

Thanks
be to God for "beloved" physicians like Luke! (Col 4:14). Praise God
for "good" Samaritans who pour oil and wine on the wounds! (Lk 10:34).

8.
Relieve the poor and the suffering.

Donít
sympathize with yourself. It actually makes your condition worse. Empathise with
others whose condition is poorer and suffering greater. Amidst excruciating pain
on the Cross, Jesus thought about His mother through whose soul a sword had been
piercing (Lk 2:35; Jn 19:25-27). It was when Job prayed for his friends the Lord
restored his losses (Job 42:10). On the other hand the rich man was denied even
a drop of water in his agony because he cared not to chase his dogs which fought
with poor Lazarus for the crumbs that dropped from the table.

What
good we do to the poor and the needy is accepted by the God of the poor as done
to Himself (Mt 25:34-40). His smile and sunshine are guaranteed when we walk
though the valley of the shadow of death. "Blessed is he who considers the
poor; the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble... The Lord will sustain him
on his sickbed and restore him from his bed of illness" (Psa 41:1,3).

Distribute
your amassed wealth to the masses who do not get even one square meal a day.
This may speed up the answer to your prayer. When you feed the foodless, house
the homeless and cover the clotheless, "your healing shall spring forth
speedily" (Isa 58:7,8). No one is too poor to give. People poorer than us
are more than the richer. Do something specific to alleviate someoneís pain so
you may attract divine favour.

9.
Rearrange your priorities.

It
is a human tendency to strive to become Jack of all Arts. But God does not want
everyone do everything. Each one should stay within his calling. Otherwise we
will spread too thin and accomplish little (2 Cor 10:13, 14). More often than we
think physical illness is a signal from God to stop and listen.

The
Word of the Almighty and the wisdom of the ancient seem to agree on the
following order of priority for any man or woman whatever be the calling. First,
God; second, family; third, job or ministry. This is hinted right in the Ten
Commandments. The first four commandments refer to our relationship with God,
the fifth relates to our family, and the last five speak of social relationships
(Ex 20:1-17). The qualification lists of Church leaders also maintain this order
(1 Tim 3:1-13). Heaven does not endorse a manís work when he becomes too busy
to spend time with God and family. Before Abraham became a blessing to the
nations, he became a friend of God and a good father to his own family (Gen
15:6; Js 2:23; Gen 18:17-19).

A
systematic devotional life has positive effect on health. "He who dwells in
the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the
Almighty... No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your
dwelling" (Psa 91:1,10).

A
harmonious home is the next best to Heaven. There will be the fruit of the
Spiritólove, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness and self-control (Gal 5:22,23). It is like a beautiful garden.
"When you eat the labour of your hands, you shall be happy and it shall be
well with you. Your wife sha1l be like a fruitful vine in the very heart of your
house, your children like olive plants all around your table" (Psa
128:2-4). Doctors say that cheerful people resist disease stronger than gloomy
people!

10.
Rest and relax.

One
reason why the Lord permits some physical discomfort is to slow us down to
prevent burn-out. He doesnít desire that we join the madness and
over-ambitiousness of this world and die before time. More than one saint and
servant of God have sincerely testified that the period of their illness was a
compulsory rest granted by God! Even to the land God gave compulsory rest when
people over-cultivated it (Lev 26:33-35).

Listen
to good music and songs when bedridden. Your spirit will be lifted up. I cannot
forget the evenings when Swarnu, one of our missionary kids, played his guitar
and sang songs for me while I was down with jaundice (1990). If you are not too
sick to read, go through the books that are shelved unused for years.

Great
hymns were composed by men and women when confined to bed. King Hezekiah wrote
an impassionate poetry when he had been sick and had recovered from his sickness
(Isa 38:9-20). The hymn Rock of Ages was authored by Augustus Toplady who
had a poor health and died at the age of thirtyeight. Stand up, stand up for
Jesus is based on the dying words of Dudley Tyng who was involved in a
tragic accident and had a painful death. I envisioned several welfare schemes
for the staff of our Mission and received new directions for the ministry while
confined or hospitalised. All things work together for good ! (Rom 8:28).

Is
healing guaranteed?

Under
normal circumstances, when we fulfil the Biblical conditions, we will be healed.
But God sometimes chooses not to heal. Reasons are unknown. The Scripture has
several striking examples. Paul the greatest among apostles was not healed of
his sickness (2 Cor 12:7-10). Timothy his most trusted coworker had chronic
stomach problem (1 Tim 5:23). Paul could not exercise his gift of healing on
another member of his team by name Trophimus (2 Tim 4:20). And prophet Elisha,
who had on him the double portion of the spirit and power of Elijah, died of
illness (2 Ki 13:14). But when the dead body of a man touched his bones in his
tomb, the man revived and stood on his feet! (v 21). Letís therefore shout
with Paul,